The International Committee of the Red Cross has received the first group of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza — seven individuals out of a total of twenty who are expected to be released today.
This marks the start of the prisoner exchange in Gaza, carried out under the recently agreed ceasefire deal, which stipulates the release of around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails in return.
According to Israeli media, the released hostages are reported to be in good health, and have already been handed over to Israeli authorities to be reunited with their families.
Earlier today, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, published a list of the 20 Israeli captives expected to be freed as part of the ongoing prisoner exchange in Gaza.
The names include:
Bar Avraham Kuperstein, Avitar David, Yosef Chaim Ohana, Segev Calfon, Avinatan Or, Elkana Buhbut, Maxim Herkin, Nimrod Cohen, Matan Zengauker, David Cunio, Eitan Horn, Matan Angrist, Eitan Mor, Gali Berman, Ze’ev Berman, Omri Miran, Alon Ohel, Guy Gelboah-Dalal, Rom Braslavsky, and Ariel Cunio.
Israeli Preparations for the Prisoner Exchange in Gaza
Israeli authorities have instructed the families of the hostages to gather at the Re’im military base in the Negev at 7:30 a.m. local time, in preparation for their relatives’ return under the ongoing prisoner exchange in Gaza.
Hebrew media outlets reported that the release operation began at 8:00 a.m. (05:00 GMT) through the Netzarim corridor, and is expected to continue until 10:00 a.m. in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
Despite logistical readiness, Israel remains uncertain about the number of bodies to be returned during this stage, as Hamas has not confirmed whether all deceased captives can be located or handed over.
Delays in Returning the Bodies Could Affect the Prisoner Exchange
According to a Palestinian source cited by Sky News Arabia, Hamas informed mediators that it might not be able to deliver all the bodies of Israeli captives due to the destruction in certain areas of Gaza, which has made recovery operations difficult.
Nevertheless, the source confirmed that Israel has agreed to proceed with the prisoner exchange in Gaza, with Arab and international forensic teams expected to assist later in locating and identifying the missing bodies.
Broader Context and Ongoing Developments
The prisoner exchange in Gaza comes amid fragile ceasefire efforts and growing international involvement aimed at reducing tensions and paving the way for humanitarian relief in the Strip.
Observers note that this exchange represents a significant step toward de-escalation, though challenges remain regarding the retrieval of remains and the implementation of subsequent phases of the agreement.
Read More:
Yedioth Ahronoth Reveals Netanyahu Concessions in the Gaza Agreement
|
Gaza: Ceasefire Enters Into Effect as Israeli Forces Issue Civilian Warnings |
